Time delay relay



March 22, 1938- G. c. ARMSTRONG 2,111,542

TIME DELAY RELAY I Original Filed Oct, 23, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig 2.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR .f Gear eC/Z'msfron 9' 9' BY March 22, 1938.

G. C. ARMsTRONG TIME DELAY RELAY Original Filed Oct. 25, 1935 WITNESSES:

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR George C. flkwsfrmg:

l M ATTdRNEY Patented Mar. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE2,111,542 TIME DELAY RELAY of Pennsylvania Application October 23, 1935,Serial No. 46,289 Renewed January 21, 1938 6 Claims.

This invention relates to delayed-action relays.

It makes use of a new electric motor which has been described incompanion application, Serial No. 46,287, filed October 23, 1935.

5 It is an object of this invention to provide a more dependable delaymechanism in such relays.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a relay in which themotor for measuring the time and the mechanism for controlling thecontacts are energized from one magnetic circuit. 5

It is a further object of my invention to provide a lock-out by whichthe completion of the 15 motion of one of the contact operating membersis prevented until a certain time has elapsed and then permitted.

Other objects of the invention and details of the construction will beapparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings,in which Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of one formof my device in, the deenergized position.

25 Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the device in a position which ithas at one time during the action of the device.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the position of the device uponcompletion of the operation of closing contacts.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view partly in section of another form of thedevice in a position which it assumes at one time during the operation.

a Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the same device in the samestage of operation.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the device in a later stageof its 'operation, and

Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating one use of the device in a circuit.

In Fig. 1, the relay has a magnetic circuit including a part I separatedby a gap 2 from a second part 3. The magnetic circuit also includes anarmature 4 which is pivoted at 5 to cheek plates 6. A coil 1 energizesthis magnetic circuit with periodic flux, the coil being usuallysupplied with alternating current.

The air gap 2 has a pole face 8 on the member 3 of the magnetic circuit,and one portion 9 of its opposite pole face is bevelled. The bevelledportion 9 and the face 8 cooperate with a cylindrical member III. In theinterior of the cylinder ill, a shaft II is located which is mounted inbearings fixed in the cheek plates. A spiral spring l2 connects thecylinder Ill and the shaft ill. This spring permits the lateral movementof the cylinder l and yet unites the shaft II to the cylinder it) fordriving purposes. The lateral movement is sufficient to permit themember ID to contact faces 8 and 9 or to assume the position shown inFig. 1.

A pinion I3 is mounted on the shaft II. It is adapted to mesh withsegmented gear M which is on a link l pivoted to the armature 4 at IS. Aprojection l! at the bottom of the sector I4 is integral with the linkl5. The armature 4 has a portion l8 at an angle to the main body of thearmature carrying a contact l9. Between the portion l8 and the link IS,a spring 20 is inserted.

A pressure block 2| bears against the cylinder it). It and the arm 23are pivoted to each other and to the cheek plates 6' at 22. The arm 23has a foot 24, which affords a bearing for a spring 25, which acts uponthe block 2|. The lower end of the arm 23 is received in a notch in alatch 26 which has an up-standing abutment 21. The latch 26 is alsoprovided with a tail piece 28 which cooperates with a spring 29, theother end of which rests against an abutment 30 on the cheek plates. Acontact 3| is supported in any suitable manner in position to cooperatewith the contact l9.

In the operation of the device, when the magnet 1 is energized byalternating current, the

, armature 4 is attracted which moves the link I5 to the left asillustrated in Fig. 2 and brings the sector l4 into mesh with thepinionl3.

At the same time, the flux through the magnetic circuit attracts thecylinder l0 into a position in which it engages the pole face 8. Thepole face 9 also attracts the cylinder l0 and tends to cause it to rollupward along the face 8. This motion is opposed by the pressure of theblock 2| caused by the spring 25. The cylinder I0 is subjected toseveral influences, an alternating flux because the current in coil 1 isalternating, friction between itself and the pole face, and theinfluence of the spring 25. Also the hysteresis of the material ofcylinder l0 enters into the action as explained in greater detail in myaboveidentified copending application. The result is that the cylindertends to rotate in a clockwise direction, as illustrated in Fig. 2.Irregularities of motion of the cylinder are absorbed by the spring I2so that the pinion I3 is steadily driven.

The pinion having been brought into mesh with the sector l4 causes thesector to move downward, which motion continues until the pro-' jectionI! is in a position adjacent the stop 21.

The link l then is against the stop 21 and the spring compressed.

During the motion of the link l5, the armatur 4 has not approached anynearer the pole piece than it did at the first movement of the armature,because the contact of the sector H with the pinion I3 has preventedsuch further movement. When the pinion 13 reaches the end of the sectorI4 and runs off the sector, the armature is free to move under theinfluence of the attraction at the pole piece I. The armature nowcompletes its travel thrusting the link l5 to the left and closing thecontacts l9 and 3|. The movement of the link |5 to the left causes theprojection H to actuate the stop 21 and move the latch 26 to unlatchingposition, compressing the spring 29. This releases the arm 23 leavingspring 25 without restraint at its upper end. Arm 23 then moves to theposition shown in Fig. 3 and the spring 25 ceases to exert any force oncylinder Ill. The cylinder therefore moves upward, and contacts thesurface 9. This stops the rotation of the motor. The magnetic reluctancein the gap 2 is also greatly diminished by this action with the resultthat the armature 4 is more firmly held against the pole face I, themagnetizing current is reduced, and the contacts l9'and 3| are firmlyheld together.

The relay continues in the position shown in Fig. 3 until the coil 1 isdeenergized. When this happens, the armature 4 drops out, opening thecontacts l9 and 3| and pushing through the spring 20 against the arm l5,moving it to its original position. At the same time, the cessation offlux in the gap 2 releases the cylinder l0 and it returns to theposition shown in Fig.1. The arm 2| follows the cylinder l0 until it isstopped by the abutment 33 on the arm 23. The spring 25 is then withoutinfluence upon the arm 23 and the arm returns under gravity to theposition shown in Fig. 1. The departure of the projection l1 fromcontact with the stop 21 permits the spring 29 to return the latch 26 toits position in which it again locks the arm 23. The spring l2 returnsthe cylinder III to its original position while the arm 23 is returning.Thus, all the parts are brought to the position illustrated in Fig. land the relay is ready for another operation.

In the form shown in Figs. 4 to 6 the coil 40 is mounted on a member 4|of a magnetic circuit which has two air gaps, one of which is at 43between the pole piece 44 and a portion of a member 45 pivoted at 46.The member 4| has a pole 48. From the pole 48 a bail 49 is dependent,against which the member 45 rests in its outermost-position. The bail isattached to the pole as shown at 50 in Fig. 5. It extends laterally asindicated at 5|, giving it a greater width than the pole face. At theback 52 it thus is considerably wider than the portion of member 45attracted by it. The side members of the bail are thus far enough frommember 45 to be without sensible effect on it. A spring 41 around thepivot 46 normally maintains the member 45 in a position differing fromthat illustrated in Fig. 4, by being slightly separated from the back 52of the bail. One end of the spring 41 is lifted out of engagement withthe member 45 by a stop 90 when the end of the member 45 comes past itsneutral position toward the back 52 of the bail. The other end of thespring is lifted out of engagement with member 45 by the edge of thecheek plate extending toward the pivot 46 whenever the member 45 passesits neutral position in. the opposite direction. Thus only in theneutral position of member 45 are both ends of the spring 41 againststops. A shading coil 53 is inserted in the end of the member 45enclosed by the bail.

On the other side of the pivot 46 from the shading coil 53, the member45 has an arcuate edge 54 which is concentric with the pivot 46. Themember 45 extends beyond the edge 54 forming an arm 55 which carries acontact 56. A hollow cylinder 51 is located between the pole piece 44and the edge 54, so that the flux in the gap 43 acts upon this cylinder.A shaft 58 is mounted in cheek plates 6 through the interior of thecylinder 51 and a pinion 59 is fixed on the end of this shaft. A spiralspring 60 connects the cylinder with the shaft.

In the member 45 there is mounted a shaftcarrying gear 6|, which has atoothed cam 62 from one portion of the periphery. A spring 63 wound onthe same shaft as gear 6| is secured at one end to the shaft and theother end is prolonged and secured to a rod 64 also extending throughthe member 45. An arm 65 secured to the same shaft as the gear 6|contacts against the rod 64 to afford a stop for the action of thespring.

A block 66 is mounted in the cheek plates by being pivoted to a rod 61.A second rod 69 acts as a stop for the block 66. A spring 69 pressesagainst the upper surface of this block, being adjustably secured by ascrew mounted in a shell 10 between the cheek plates.

In the normal position with the coil 49 de-energized, the spring 41holds the member 45 slightly away from the back 52 of the bail 49. Thisposition of the member 45 locates the gear 6| just out of mesh with thepinion 59. When the coil 40 is energized, the member 45 is attracted bythe flux between its upper end and the back 52 of the ball 49. Thisbrings it into the position illustrated in Fig. 4.

The flux in the gap 43 also exerts an attraction on the cylinder 51which brings it into contact with the edge 54. There is an attractionbetween this cylinder and the pole face 44 which is opposed by thepressure exerted by the spring 69 through the block 66. The cylinder 51is now subjected to the varying force of the periodic flux in the gap 43and the biasing force of the spring 69. It is of magnetic material andpossesses a certain hysteresis. The action of the varying flux, thebiasing force and the hysteresis as explained in my above-identifiedcopending application tends to set up a rotationof the cylinder 51,clockwise as seen in Fig. 4. For the reasons explained in said case, thecurved edge 54 has, at times, the same polarity as the adjacent portionof the cylinder 51. During such times there is little or no frictionbetween the cylinder and the edge. This is the situation during at leasta part of the time when the cylinder is moving away from the pole face44 under the influence of the spring 59. During the time that thecylinder is moving toward the pole face 44, it is attracted to- Ward theedge 54 and moves by rolling along this edge. The rotation incident tothis rolling accumulates into a fairly steady rotation of the cylinder.

Under the influence of the rotation of the cylinder 51, the spring 60 istightened and causes the shaft 58, and, therefore, the pinion 69 torotate. This drives the gear 6| and when the cam 62 reaches the positionto cooperate with the pinion, the gear 6| will force the lower end ofthe member 5 away from the pinion and the upper end of this member willthus be forced away from the back 52 of the bail 49. By the time thatthe point of the cam has reached the pinion, the member 45 will be moreunder the infiuence of the pole 48 than of the back 52. When thiscondition prevails, the member 45 will move into contact with the pole48 and the contact 56 will be brought against its cooperating contactII.

When the coil 40 is deenergized, the member 45 returns to its originalposition under the influence of the spring 41 and the cylinder 51returns to its original position under the influence of gravity and thespring 69.

It Will'be observed that in the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, theprevention of the complete closing of the armature is accomplished by amechanical obstacle but in the form shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the obstacleis magnetic. When the cam 82 has lifted the end of the member 45 farenough away from-the back 52 of the bail 49 to overcome the obstaclepresented by the magnetic attraction between them, the member 45 movesunder the influence of the pole 48 without further hinderance.

By adjusting arm 65 on its shaft and securing it in place with its locknut 9|, the position to which the gear 6| will move under the action ofspring 63 is determined. This determines the amount of rotation ofpinion 59 required to move member 45 past its neutral position. It thusdetermines the time used by the delay mechanism before contact 56-'|l'will close.

In Fig. 7, I have illustrated a circuit to show one use of the deviceshown in Figs. 1 to 3 or of that shown in Figs. 4 to 6. A motor Bil isconnected to a line 81 through a switch 82. This connection isaccomplished by P push-button 83 which energizes the pull-in magnet ofthe switch 82. Looking contacts 84 maintain the switch closed. Currentis thus supplied to the motor and the resistors 85 are in circuit withthe secondary of the motor. Current is also supplied to the coil 86 ofthe time delay relay, acting like the coil 1 of Fig. 1 or 40 of Fig. 4.The coil causes the contacts 81 to close after a lapse of time. Whenthese contacts have closed the coil 88 is energized closing contacts toshunt out the resistors 85, opening contacts to deenergize the coil 86and closing locking contacts for the coil 88.

The motor is thus first energized and after a suflicient time haselapsed for it to get up to speed the secondary resistors are cut out.When the motor is to be stopped, the button 89 is pushed, deenergizingthe magnet of switch 82 and restoring all parts to normal.

This is an illustration of only'one situation in which the time delayrelay which I have illustrated is of use. Many other illustrations willoccur to those skilled in the art. Modifications of the details of thestructure come within the scope of this invention. What I claim as myinvention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is shown by theaccompanying claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a time-delay relay, an armature biased to open position and havingan extension at an angle to the rest of said armature, contacts operatedby said extension and open when the armature is in open position, amagnetic circuit including said armature, a coil supplied withalternating current energizing said magnetic circuit, an air gap in saidmagnetic circuit, a hollow cylinder of magnetic material occupying aportion of said air gap, a shaft mounted through said cylinder, a springconnecting said cylinder to said shaft, a pinion mounted on said shaft,an arm pivoted to said armature and carrying a geared sector, saidgeared sector engaging said pinion when the magnetic circuit isenergized, and by said engagement preventing the armature fromcompleting its closing movement, cheek plates in which said armature andshaft are-mounted, a second arm pivoted in said cheek plates, a pressureblock pivoted at the same point in said second arm, a spring actingbetween said second arm and said pressure block to cause said pressureblock to bear against said hollow cylinder, whereby the combinedinfluence of the pressure and of the flux in said air gap will causesaid pinion to rotate and drive said geared sector, a lock for saidsecond arm, a projection on said first arm brought into position toactuate said lock to unlock position, when said pinion has driven saidsector out of engagement therewith, whereby the movement of the armaturewhen the sector is free of the pinion unlocks said second arm andreleases the pressure of the pressure block on the cylinder, and aspring connection between the sector-bearing arm and the armature.

2. In a time-delay relay, a magnetic circuit comprising a coil-carryingportion having a pole, an armature, a bail extending from said pole andsurrounding one end of said armature, air gaps between saidcoil-carrying portion and said armature and between said bail and saidarmature, a coil energized by alternating current on said coil-carryingportion, cheek plates, a pivot for said armature mounted in said cheekplates, the one of said air gaps remote from said bail being on theopposite side of said pivot from the bail, a hollow cylinder of magneticmaterial occupying a portion of said last-mentioned air gap, a shaftthrough said cylinder rotatably mounted in said cheek plates, a pinioncarried by said shaft, said armature having a portion of its edgearcuate and concentric with the pivot of the armature in position to enage said cylinder when said magnetic circuit is energized, a springconnecting said cylinder to said. shaft, a pressure block pivotallymounted in said cheek plates, a spring pressing said pressure blockagainst said cylinder, whereby the cylinder will rotate when influencedby the pressure of said block and the flux in said gap and the trio tionagainst said edge, a gear rotatably mounted in said armature in positionto engage said pinion when said armature is attracted, a gearedprojection on said gear, the gearing on said projection being continuouswith the gearing on said gear, whereby when the pinion meshes with thegeared projection the distance between the mounting of said gear and theshaft through the cylinder will be increased, a spring mounted aroundthe pivot of said armature and stops on the cheek plates cooperatingwith said spring to provide a bias for biasing the armature to aposition out of contact with the bail and with the coil-carryingportion, whereby when the mag netic circuit is first energized thearmature will be attracted to the part of the bail remote from the poleand the pinion will rotate driving the gear and then the gearedprojection until it moves the armature past the position where theattraction of the bail equals the attraction of the pole and then thearmature will move under the attraction of said pole, and contactsclosed by said last-named movement of the armature.

3. A relay comprising an armature, a magnetic circuit including saidarmature and having an air gap, a cylinder structure of magnetic mate:-rial occupying a portion of said air gap, a mov able sector engaging a.part of said cylinder structure when the magnetic circuit is energizedto arrest movement of said armature, and a pressure block bearingagainst said cylinder structure, whereby the combined influence of suchpressure and of the flux in said air gap will cause said cylinderstructure to rotate and actuate said sector.

4. A relay comprising an armature, a magnetic circuit including saidarmature and having an air gap, a hollow cylinder of magnetic materialoccupying a portion of said air gap, a pinion movable with saidcylinder, a geared sector engaging said pinion when the magnetic circuitis energized to arrest movement of said armature, and a pressure blockbearing against said cylinder, whereby the combined influence of suchpressure and 01' the flux in said air gap will cause said cylinder torotate and drive said geared sector.

5. A relay comprising a coil-carrying portion having a pole, anarmature, a bail extending from said pole and surrounding one end ofsaid armature, air gaps between said coil-carrying portion and saidarmature and between said ball and said armature, a cylinder structureof magnetic material occupying a portion of the first-named air gap, apressure block bearing against said cylinder structure, whereby thecombined influence of such pressure and of the flux in said firstnamedair gap will cause said cylinder structure to rotate, a movable sectorengaging a part of said cylinder structure when said armature isenergized, means for biasing said armature to a position out of contactwith the ball and with the coil-carrying portion, whereby when themagnetic circuit is first energized, the armature will be attracted tothe part of the bail remote from the pole and the cylinder structurewill actuate the sector until-it moves the armature past the positionwhere the attraction of the bail equals the attraction of the pole andthen the armature will move under the attraction of said pole.

6. A relay comprising a coil-carrying portion having a pole, anarmature, a ball extending from said pole and surrounding one end 0!said armature, air gaps between said coil-carrying portion and saidarmature and between said ball and said armature, a hollow cylinder ofmagnetic material occupying a portion 01' the first-named air gap, apressure block bearing against said hollow cylinder, whereby thecombined influence of such I pressure and of the flux in saidfirst-named air gap will cause said hollow cylinder to rotate, a pinionmovable with said cylinder, a geared sector engaging said pinion whenthe armature is energized, means for biasing said armature to a positionout of contact with the bail and with the coil-carrying portion, wherebywhen the magnetic circuit is first energized, the armature will beattracted to the part of the bail remote from the pole and the pinionwill drive the geared sector until it moves the armature past theposition where the attraction of the bail equals the attraction of thepole and then the armature will move under the attraction of said pole.

GEORGE C. ARMSTRONG.

